Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Mary Jane Dodge passed away Thursday,June 13, 2019, at Mountain Meadows in
Leavenworth, WA. She was born on June 22,1919, in Pullman, WA, the fifth child of
Charles and Nellie Gabby. Her father worked for Washington State University managing
the livestock, and she had fond memories of the fresh milk and of churning butter and
“clabber” on the back porch. She enjoyed being rodeo queen one year. Her family had a small family band and would travel around to different events and perform.
She met her husband, Robert Gray Dodge, Sr., while a student at the University of Idaho. They were married in 1938. Mary waited out the war years while Bob was at sea with the
U.S. Navy. When he returned, they lived in various places while Bob worked on his education. Mary was a secretary at M.I.T. while Bob attended classes at Harvard. They moved to Hawaii in
1948 and settled on Oahu where Bob practiced law and was active in local politics. Mary gave many elegant and fashionable luncheons and dinners during the political years.
Mary met and spoke with Lyndon Johnson on a trip to Washington, D.C. Mary was a woman of many talents. She was an excellent seamstress and knitter, and played the piano beautifully. She was also a good cook. She was an excellent record keeper and secretary. She and the children moved to Spokane, WA, in 1963, where she remained until the mid-70's, when she returned to Hawaii and worked as secretary for the La Pietra School for Girls.
She returned to Washington in 1985, and settled in Leavenworth, where she had previously purchased property. She and her longtime companion, Peter James, traveled through
Europe several times and enjoyed visiting Alaska. They would still return to Hawaii whenever possible. Mary will be missed by all of her family. Mary is survived by her four children, Susan Dodge, of Leavenworth, WA, Bill Dodge (Sandra) of Spokane, WA, Robert Dodge (Melinda) of Peshastin, WA, and Jill Dodge Peden of Guerneville, CA; six grandchildren, Ross (Marlene) Dodge, Jon Dodge, Joel Dodge, Johanna (Darren) Billings, Robert (Caitlin) Ellis, and Brad (Miranda) Ellis. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Yohannan and Ronan Dodge, and Will and Camden Ellis.
